Display device



Oct., 13, 1942. W HAYES DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 248, 1940 v f//// \\L\ u w INVENTOR 17am/d i. Wages M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UHTED TES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention pertains generally to display devices and more particularly to a display sign adapted to provide a glow or halo effect.

Gaseous tube electric discharge signs, frequently referred to generally as neon signs, have increased tremendously in popularity of recent years and have extensively displaced previous types of electric bulb signs. The letters or designs of gaseous tube signs form uninterrupted lines and, when illuminated, give off a charactcristic surrounding glow or halo eifect not achieved with the usual electric bulb type of sign. The extensive increase in such signs has been true in spite of certain disadvantages of gaseous tube signs over electric bulb signs, for example, a higher initial cost, greater number of parts to get out of order, relatively poor'daytime visibility due to numerous projecting lengths of glass tubing, and the tendency of a gas tube to cast as many light rays in sidewise directions as well as straight forward. It has been attempted to overcome poor daytime visibility by painting letters or designs on a backing located behind the gas tubes so as to correspond with the letters or designs formed by the tubes themselves. This expedient, in many cases, only serves to add to the confusing appearance of the sign for, when viewed from a side angle, the glass tube shapes appear out of alignment With respect to the painted letters or designs and the resulting effect is very confusing.

The present invention aims to overcome or minimize the above and other difficulties by providing an improved type of electric bulb sign which, when lighted in the nighttime, appears to give oi a glow or halo effect and also one which closely simulates a gaseous tube type sign. The present display sign has no projecting glass tubes to mar its daytime appearance. The letters and designs of the present sign are sharp in outline or appearance, either during the day or at night when illuminated, and hence may be seen from a great distance without confusion of letters or designs. Light rays are cast chiey straight forward, instead of in sidewise directions as well.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved type of display device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display sign which, when illuminated', emanates a glow or halo effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved type of display sign adapted to simulate the eiTect created by a gaseous tube electric discharge sign.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display sign which gives 01T a glow or halo eifect and which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display sign for simulating a gaseous tube type of sign and having no glass tubes to obstruct a view of the sign.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display sign which emanates a glow or halo effect and in which a design is carried by a translucent, comparatively unbreakable, fire resistant sheet of material.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or willy be indicated in the appended claims, and var-Y ious advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a display sign embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the sign illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly broken away, of a Word design embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along line 6 4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c are fragmentary' sectional views illustrating the steps in a preferred method of forming the letters or designs shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention;

. Fig. 7 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of another modified form of the invention; and

Fig.' 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, there is shown a box or holder l containing a reflector 2 for assisting in evenly distributing light rays from an electric bulb 4 or other source of illumination through a sheet of light-pervious material 5 removably retained in grooves or recesses 1 of a. frame 8 held at the front of the box. The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is intended to illustrate a general arrangement; it Will be clear that various other types of boxes, reflectors and frames may be used.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the sheet of material 5 at the front of the box 2 and various features of the display carried thereby. Preferably the light-pervious sheet of material 5 is translucent, substantially unbreakable or shatter-proof, heat resistant or non-inflammable and has a surface adapted to retain paints, lacquers or the like applied thereto. Examples of such substances are thc-se presently known under the trade names of Lamicoid, Micarta, Insurock, and Formica; also, certain types of treated papers may be utilized. The unbreakable feature of the sheet of material is highly desirable for many municipalities refuse to allow the use of display signs with glass sheets which may crash to the ground when broken and injure a passerby; the heat resistant feature is desirable in order to prevent heat generated by a bulb Ci from igniting or warping the sheet 5.

Any suitable shape or configuration of design may be utilized on the sheet 5 with the present invention but, for illustrative purposes, the inveni tion has been shown as applied to letters forming words and also to a design in the shape of a bow.

n its finished form each letter or configuration preferably comprises a colored translucent main body portion Ii! surrounded by a colored translucent border or marginal portion II, which is in turn surrounded by a substantially opaque nal ground portion i3. Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the word Tap shown at the lower part of Fig. l. portion Iii of a letter or other design may be of any desired color but preferably is of a color similar to that given off by gaseous electric discharge tubes. The color given oi by such a tube depends, in most cases, upon the particular kind of gas with which the tube is filled. Red is an example of a popular color. The translucent border or marginal portion I i may also be of any suitable color but preferably is of a lighter color than the main body portion I0 of a letter or design and preferably overlies a relatively narrow area or strip around the margin of the letter or design. Highly satisfactory results may be obtained by utilizing a marginal portion II having a width equal to substantially one-half that of :fr

the main body of a letter or design. Examples of satisfactory colors for the translucent marginal portions I I are white, cream, grey or yellow. The nal opaque ground I3 may be of any contrasting color which will stand out well during :1

daylight, for example, black, dark blue or dark green.

When viewed in the daylight, and compared with a gaseous tube sign, the red ma'm body l of a letter takes the place of a letter formed by a gaseous tube and the surrounding lighter colored marginal strip ll appears like the background usually painted behind a gaseous tube letter or other design. When illuminated at night, and compared with a gaseous tube sign, light rays from within the box or holder I pass out through both the main body portion Il) and the overlying surrounding marginal strip II. Those rays which pass only through the main body I0 of the letter cause it to appear brightly illuminated; with the example referred to above the color will be red. Those light rays which pass through the overlying marginal area II do not cause it to appear as brightly illuminated as the main body portion. The marginal portion II will appear to The translucent main body :1.

be of the same general color as the main body portion Iii, but of a lighter shade of that color. The combined effect is a clearly outstanding letter or design I0 with a glow or halo I I extending about it. The present sign may thus be used in instances where it is desired to simulate a gaseous tube sign with its characteristic glow or halo appearance.

Where the design comprises a bow or some other such design, suitable shade lines and areas may be achieved by slightly varying the thickness of the color portions which are put onto the main body of the design.

In forming letters or designs on the translucent sheet 5 an area of the sheet where a particular word or design is to appear may first be provided with a layer iii of suitably colored translucent paint, lacquer or other suitable material (Figs. 3 to 5). When this layer I0 is dry, assuming paint, lacquer or the like to be used, the desired shape of letter or other design may be formed thereon with masking paste, paint or tape id, (Fig. 5b) and then an opaque layer I3 of paint or other material applied over the rst colored translucent layer IQ. The masking material I4 may be thereafter removed or stripped away, together with the portions of opaque material I3 which overlie it, so as to leave the desired letter or design sharply outlined on the rst colored translucent layer I. The translucent layer design is revealed to view by the removal of the masking material and its overlying opaque material; light may hence pass through the uncovered translucent area. Finally, the lighter colored translucent portion I I may be applied over the marginal areas of the sharply outlined letter I0.

In producing a large number of the display signs a screen process may be utilized t0 speed up production and decrease manufacturing costs. Such a process is, in effect, a type of stencilling operation and comprises applying the desired colors one at a time to the translucent sheet 5 through different silk or other suitable screens (not shown). For example, a first screen may be utilized to apply paint, lacquer or the like in a translucent layer IEB in the general outline of each of the letters comprising the word Tap (Fig. 3) when this layer has dried sufficiently, the layer of opaque paint I3 or the like may be applied to the sheet through a, second screen so as to give the more exactly desired shape to each' letter and to cover the areas intermediate the letters; nally a third screen may be used to apply the marginal halo I I over the colored, translucent, sharply outlined letter or design.

The exterior surface of the sheet 5 and the designs formed thereon may be protected from the weather by applying over the letters and designs one or more coats I5 of transparent varnish, lacquer or other suitable material (Fig. 5c) This transparent layer does not mar the appearance of the designs in any way and minimizes the weathering effects of sunlight, rain, hail, et cetera.

It will be clear that different colors may be used at different portions of the same sheet of material so as to form differently colored words or designs thereon. The term color is used in the present application in its broad sense and it is not intended to exclude black and white.

Instead of applying the design-forming materials to an exterior surface of a sheet of translucent or transparent material, they may be applied to a sheet of suitable paper 3 or other suitable substance and this sheet laminated or sandwiched between desired outer thicknesses 6 and 9 of translucent or transparent sheets (Fig. 6). The design forming materials may be applied to the sheet 3 in the same relation and manner as described hereinabove in connection with Figs. 3 through 5c. In Fig. 6, however, the layer of varnish or the like I5 will be unnecessary since the intermediate sheet is protected by the layers 6 and 9. The number of outer sheets between which the sheet of paper 3 is sandwiched will depend upon the degree of diffusion of light that is required through the finished sign sheet but preferably the thickness of that extending in front of the intermediate sheet is relatively thin to permit maximum visibility of the design carried by the intermediate sheet. Uniting together of the various sheets into a substantially integral or unitary sign sheet may be achieved by subjecting the sheet or layers 3, 6 and '9 to heat and pressure in an appropriate press; preferably the sheet 3 is rst coated with a suitable phenolic or urea resin to facilitate joining together of the Various layers. The sheets may also be secured together by means of an adhesive applied to desired portions of the sheets. Since the design-carrying sheet 3 is not exposed, deterioration due to weathering cannot aifect it. Also, fading, or loss of brilliance of col-ors by reason of exposure to sunlight is minimized for objectional sun rays are cut olf from the colors of the design-carrying sheet by the outer layer 9 of the sign sheet.

In Figs. '7 and 8 there is illustrated a modified form of the present invention wherein the colored translucent layer which is effective to form the main body Ila of a letter or design is carried by the sheet of translucent material 5a itself. A sheet of material 5a, similar to the sheet 5 hereinabove described, may have embedded therein differently colored translucent sheets of material Ida, it?) and Ilic. A method of forming these translucent sheets is to rst laminate or sandwich together separate sheets of clear material 5a and suitably colored material Ita, Iilb and I Iic and then to insert the laminated layers in a press where heat and p ressure are applied until the several layers are formed into a substantially unitary sheet. In Figs. 7 and 8 the colored translucent sheets ita, Illb and lc are shown exposed at one side of the sheet 5a but it will be clear that other translucent or transparent sheets such as 5a Could be placed thereover if desired. Also, in Figs. 7 and 8' the several differently colored translucent portions are shown embedded into the same sheet 5a to bring out that this modification, like the preferred embodiment, is not limited to use only with a main body design of a single color; words or other designs in different colors may be formed over differently colored areas of Ida, IGZ) and Ic of the single composite sheet of material. Where a design is to be of a single color, a translucent sheet of a single color only may be utilized. The several differently colored portions Ilia, Ib and Ic need not fit closely together at their edges but may have portions of the sheet material 5a extending into the spaces between them; the spacing of the portions Ita, ith and Ito is not objectionable for the opaque paint or other Inaterial employed in forming letters or designs will conceal the spaced or rough edges of the sheets when prepared into a finished sign sheet. The colored sheets I ila, I @b and IIic which are embedded in the sheet 5a are adapted to form the colored main body portions of letters or designs,

. tions of the sheet.

as illustrated by the main body portion of the letter T in Figs. 7 and 8. The main body portion of the letter T, or any other design, is outlined by a translucent halo or margin IIa which overlies the layer Ilia and the halo or margin I Ia is in turn outlined by an opaque eld or layer I3a.

In forming a design on the sheet of Figs. '7 and 8, the letter or other configurations may first be formed with masking paste or other material which is out or otherwise formed into the shape of a desired letter or design and placed against the sheet w-here it will remain by adhesion. Note Fig. 5b which illustrates the use of such a masking tape I4 in the same manner as in connection with Figs. '7 and 8. Thereafter an opaque layer of material Ita may be applied over the masking layer and also the uncovered por- When the opaque layer Ita has dried sufficiently, the masking paste may be removed by stripping or washing it off. This will leave a letter or design on the sheet, outlined by the opaque layer |30.. The opaque layer I3a covers only those portions of the sheet of Figs. 7 and 8 through which it is desired to prevent the passage of light, i. e., it serves to outline designs formed at any portion of the sheet. While a design in shape of letter T is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 over the layer Ita this is illustrative only as any suitable designs may also be formed over the areas I'lb or ite. The colored translucent halo or' margin I la. may next be applied directly over the colored translucent layer Ita, within the area defined by the opaque layer i3d (here shown as the letter T).

Where a screen process is utilized, the opaque layer i3d of material may rst be applied directly to the sheet and, when the opaque layer I3a is suiiiciently dry, the marginal halo I la may be applied directly to the colored translucent sheet 5a.

A layer of transparent varnish, lacquer or other material may be applied over the exterior surface of the sheet to minimize weathering, as

' in the preferred embodiment.

An additional manner of providing the halo lia for the modification of Figs. 'l and 8, or for a translucent sheet of a single color, is to lightly sandblast or otherwise suitably roughen the border portion extending about a letter or other design. The opaque material I3a extends, as usual, about both the body Id and the halo IIa of the design. Where the halo IIa is thus lightly sandblasted on the sheet 5a, it presents, during the daytime, the appearance of a white or light colored border surrounding the main body I a of a design. Since the Sandblasting is preferably lightly done, it does not completely penetrate a colored translucent portion of a sheet to expose an underneath white translucent layer. Therefore, when illuminated from behind a't night, the main body portion Ita, of a design will appear surrounded' with a translucent halo I Ia of lighter shade of color than that of the main body portion Ita; this is believed due to the fact that the sandblasted halo portions are of slightly less thickness than the main body Illa of a design and light rays passing through a halo portion cause it to appear to be of Va lighter shade than the main body of a design.

An advantage of the modified construction is that it eliminates the time and labor incident to applying an initial layer of colored translucent to minimization of blurring, the sign is comparatively fireproof, unbreakable and is well able to withstand any rough usage to which it' may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A display device of the class described, coinprising, in combination, a substantially translucent sheet of material having integrally formed therewith a plurality of colored translucent portions, and a design carried by said colored translucent portions comprising a colored translucent main body portion formed by said integral colored translucent portions, a colored translucent marginal area overlying part of said main body portion of the design, and a substantially opaque final ground extending about said design.

2. A display device of the class described, cornprising, in combination, a sheet of plastic material having integrally formed therewith a colored translucent portion, and a design carried by said colored translucent portion comprising a colored translucent main body, a lighter colored marginal area extending about said main body, and a material extending, in eect, about said main body and marginal area to form a contrasting nal ground.

3. A display panel made of a substantially translucent unbreakable material carrying adjacent the normally outwardly disposed side thereof a colored translucent material for forming 'the body portion of a design, a substantially opaque material applied against portions of said colored translucent material and forming the outlines of said design, and a second translucent material applied against said first translucent material adjacent the outer edges thereof and within the outlines formed by said substantially opaque material so as to form a contrasting border portion at the edges of the main body of a design, said contrasting border portion representing the background at the rear of a gaseous tube character when the display panel is illuminated from the front thereof and representing the halo effect of a gaseous tube character when the display panel is illuminated from the rear thereof.

e. A display device of the class described adapted to provide a halo effect, comprising, in combination, a substantially Vtranslucent sheet of material, a colored translucent unbreakable material applied to the normally outwardly disposed surface of said sheet of material, an opaque material applied against and extending over portions of said translucent material and outlining a design thereon, and a second differently colcred translucent material applied against the outwardly disposed surface of said rst translucent material and within the design formed by 'said opaque material to provide a contrasting 75 relatively narrow border about said design said contrasting border portion representing the background at the rear of a gaseous tube character when the display ldevice is illuminated from the front thereof and representing the halo effect of a gaseous tube character when the display panel is illuminated from the rear thereof.

y5. A display panel adapted to be used to simulate a gaseous tube type sign, comprising, in combination, a plurality of layers of substantially unbreakable sheet material separated by an intermediate layer of sheet material having at one side thereof a design comprising an opaque ground area outlining a colored translucent letter or design, the layer of sheet material of the same side of said intermediate sheet as the design being relatively thin to facilitate Visibility of said design and the layer of sheet material at the opposite side of said intermediate sheet being relatively thick to facilitate even distribution of light passing therethrough from the rear of the display panel, said several layers of sheet material being united together to form a unitary display panel.

6. A display panel made of a substantially translucent unbreakable re resistant material, a translucent colored material in the form of a design occupying at least part of the area of said panel, a second lighter colored translucent Inaterial overlying the marginal part of said rst translucent colored material and forming with said rst translucent material a design with a translucent body portion and with a lighter colcred contrasting translucent marginal portion, and a third coloring material extending about at least part of said second translucent material to provide a contrasting color effect with said second translucent material.

7. A display panel made of a substantially translucent unbreakable fire resistant material, a layer of colored translucent pigment in the form of a design overlying part of said panel at the normally exposed side thereof, a second layer of lighter colored translucent pigment overlying the marginal part of said first layer and forming with said iirst layer a design with a colored translucent main body portion and with a lighter colore-d translucent marginal portion, said lighter colored marginal portions having a width equal to approximately one-half that of the exposed portions of said rst layer, a layer of darker colored substantially opaque pigment outlining the design formed by said first and second layers of lighter colored translucent pigments, and a layer of transparent varnish or the like overlying the exposed surfaces of said layers of pigment.

8. A display device of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sheets of substantially unbreakable light-pervious material and an intermediate design-carrying sheet of material having a design at the normally outwardly disposed side thereof comprising a colored translucent main body portion, a relatively narrow translucent marginal portion extending partially over and about the colored translucent main body portion, and a substantially opaque material forming a design about said additional translucent material, said plurality of sheets and intermediate design-carrying sheet being united together to form a single integral sheet of substantially unbreakable fireproof material.

9. A display device of the class described comprising, in combination, a sheet of material having at the normally outwardly disposed side et f Y 2,298,940

thereof a design comprising a colored translucent main body portion, a translucent material extending partially over the outer surface of the colored translucent main body portion adjacent the marginal edges thereof, and a material forming a design about said additional translucent material, a sheet of substantially unbreakable light-pervious material extending over the normally outwardly disposed side of the designcarrying sheet, and a translucent sheet of substantially unbreakable material extending over the normally inwardly disposed side of the design carrying sheet.

10.The method of forming a design on a translucent display panel, which method comprises, rst applying a layer of colored translucent material over an area of said panel, at least partially drying said layer, applying a masking material to said translucent layer to form a design thereon, then applying a layer of opaque material over said first layer of colored translucent material and at least the edges of said masking material, removing said masking material and the portions of said opaque material which extend over the edges thereof to expose the underlying layer of said colored translucent material and to form the edge portions of said design, and finally applying a layer of contrastingly colored translucent material over at least part of the margin of the exposed design formed on said first colored translucent material by said masking material.

11. The method of making a design on a display panel, which method comprises, placing a translucent material over a portion of the normally outwardly disposed side of said panel, applying a masking paste to said translucent material to form a design thereon, then placing a substantially opaque material over part of said translucent material and said masking paste, removing said masking paste and the portions of said opaque material which extend over the edges thereof to expose the underlying translucent material and to form the edge portions thereof, and placing a, second translucent material over a portion of the exposed design formed on said iirst translucent material by means of said masking paste.

HOWARD W. HAYES.

BKM@ nl 

